Locke is a prominent figure in the Obama administration, largely responsible for combating the nation’s still-sour economy and high unemployment rates. He responded to critics of the federal Recovery Act, saying increased national spending is less expensive in the long run than letting the economy falter.

“The price America would have paid for not acting would have been much higher,” Locke said.

He added: “These unpopular steps worked.”

Locke commented briefly on Washington state’s own spending crisis — news that revenues through 2013 will likely drop by $1.4 billion. Gov. Chris Gregoire has already dealt cuts to state agencies, but Locke spoke up for one spending category.

“We can never relax our commitment in the state of Washington to high academic standards,” Locke said. “We do our children no favors by having low academic standards so they can easily graduate and make us feel good.”

He said Europe and Asia are outpacing the U.S. in producing of skilled workers, and that the trend must be reversed.

Locke said trade relations have consumed much of his time in the Obama administration, which wants to double the rate of U.S. exports.

About 11 percent of the country’s GDP is made up of exports right now.

“We can do better than 11 percent,” Locke said.

Following a meeting of the president’s export council Thursday, Locke announced that U.S. exports are up 18 percent in 2010 so far, compared to the same months last year.